Coupling



Patented July 5,1938 l 'uiu'ri'lu STATES PATENT OFFICE l .CQG

s Ulllml. ich 24-221) This invention relates to a functionally and structurally improved coupling which may be employed in numerous different associations but which is primarily intended to couple layers of metal or similar material against movement with respectto each other, and/or to close or cover openings in one or more of such layers.

It is an object of the invention to furnish a unit of this character which may readily be manipulated to secure any number of materialA layers one to the other and against any probability of accidental displacement with respect to each other.

A further object of the invention is that of furnishing a coupling device, the parts of which willfunction lto permit of aready release of the layers from each other, it being understood that the coupling and uncoupling of the parts as specifled in this and preceding paragraphs may be 0 achieved, for example, merely by the employment of a simple tool such as a screw driver.

An additional object is that of providing a coupling device embodying relatively few parts. each individually simple and rugged in construction, such parts being capable of manufacture by more or less automatic machinery and when assembled operating over long periods of time with freedom from all diillculties.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheet of drawings illustrating practical embodimentsof the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary face view of layers of material and showing the cpupling in association I therewith;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along -the line 2--2 and in the direction of the arrows of Fig. 1; u H P Fig. 3 is a side view of the part as shown in Figs. 1 and'2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing an alternative form of construction;

Fig. 5 is a sectional side view taken on lines 5--5 oi Fig. 6 oi the layers and illustrating a still further form which the coupling may take;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the unit as shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 'I is a view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating a still further form oi' coupling, and Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view partly in section. taken along the line 8-8 and in the direction of the arrows of Fig. '7.

By means of the present invention there is provided fa coupling which, as afore brought out,

permits a relatively inexperienced-operator to unite, against the probability of any accidental detachment, a plurality of layers of material for the purpose of covering an opening in one of such layers or otherwise, but which coupling at the same time may, with equal facility be manip- 5 ulated toallow of the parts being readily detached. -The uses to which a structure such as this may be put are so numerous that it is impracticable to herewith schedule the same. Sufflce it to say that any number of installations n) wherein the coupling will be useful will occur to anyone having knowledge of problems involving the connecting of material layers and especially layers of metal.

Thus, referring primarily to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, 15 the numeral 10 indicates a material layer to which a second layer of material Il is to be coupled.

These. layers are formed with aligned openings, i preferably having the same diameter, and there extends from the inner face of layer ila flange 20 or collar I2, defining the edge of the opening formed in such layer. While, of course, .this collar might, if desired, be integral with layer I0, it is preferred, for convenience o f manufacture, that the same form a part of a plate i3, secured 25 to the face of layer Ill by rivets, welding, or otherwise. This collar is formed with a pair of splrally extending trackway portions, which areprefer-v ably continued through its body in the form of slots I4. 3o- It is.. of course, apparent that the lengthoi.' travel of the slots I4 can be varied t& suit any set of circumstances, and will, in part. be dependent on the length of travel desired for the stud I6 in each case. i 35 Adjacent what might be termed the exit portions of the tracks or slots Il, the edge of the collar presents indentations I6. These slots and indentations should preferably be formed at diametrically opposite points in the collar, and it will 40 of course, be understood that the entrance portions of these'slots are conveniently continued through layer I0, as indicated especially in Fig. 2.

Rotatably mounted within' collar I2 and of la l rod portions Il extend. These portions may prof,

ject beyond the face of the stud a distance in excess of the thickness of the material consti# tuting the collar l2. Under these circumstances 50 it is, of course, apparent'that the notches or recessesvin material layer Ill yand in line with the entrance to slots I4 will be of a depthsuch that their base portions are separated a distance in excess o f the over all length of rod ends i 1. These 5d ends I`I`may, o! course, be integral extensions of stud I6 and the latter might, if desired, be solid rather than hollow as illustrated. If, as shown, however, the rod I1 be a separate element. then it is to be understood that in being applied to stud Il it shall be associated therewith in a manner such that any future relative movements of these parts is precluded.

Ailixed to the outer end of stud I6 is a head portion I8, having a diameter materially in excess of the openingV of layer II through which its shank extends. interposed between this head portion and the outer face of layer II-.is a spring element I9 in the form of a resilient washer and which will, when in locked position, urge the head Il inwardly, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3. With this construction, itis apparent that stud I6 including the rod end II is permanently attached to layer II. This is also true of the resilient element or washer I9 which will -at all times remain in position encircling the shank of said stud. The same will be true of collar I2 with respect to layer lil.

'If now the end of stud I6 is introduced into the opening of layer I0 and the rod ends are brought to a position in line with the entrance of slot or trackway portions I4 (and vthe continuations thereof formed in layer I 0), it will be obvious that by rotating stud IE the rod or projecting portion I1 will be caused to traverse trackway portion I4, thus carrying layer II toward layer I0 until they are in intimate face to face contact. Thereupon, by compressing element Il, the projecting ends I'I may becaused to emerge from slot portions I4. During this movement oi the parts, stud I6 will, of course, be turning as for example under the influence of a. screw driver extending within the slot 20 of head Il, or the stud itself may present a por- .tion which may be conveniently manipulated. Therefore, element I9 will be compressed to a major extent, and portions I'I will ride along the inner edge of collar I2 and enter the depressions or'notches I5. Thereupon, by relieving the pressure resilient elementy I5, incident to the continued outward thrust which it exerts, will cause projections I'I to rmly engage these indentations, thus locking layers I 0 and II against movement with respect to each other.

Obviously, aready release of the parts may be eiiected by rotating stud I 6 in the opposite direction whereby projections I1 will move out of the indentations and then by continuing to rotate said stud, the rod ends I1 or their equivalents will ride along the trackway portions I4, nally emerging through the opening in layer III.

In the form of construction shown in Fig. 4,

layers Il and II have again been shown, but in this instance collar 2I has a base portion 22 which bridges a relatively enlarged opening 23 in layer I0. Thisbase portion has inherently resilient characteristics and under these circumstances the resilient element I! may beV dispensed with.

It is apparent that with a construction such` 'as this all parts cooperate in the manner afore described in connection with Figs. 1 to 3, excepting that this will distort the base portion 22, but

7g ing. stud Il in a reverse direction so that as aisance v the rod ends or projections I1 clear the entrance of slots I4, layers I 0 and II may be completely' These portions may, of course. project entirely across the opening or, as shown, may terminate after they extend inwardly from the opening edge for a proper distance. If a cross bar is actually employed, then at least thebase portion of stud 24 should be hollow. Otherwise it suilices that this base portion be formed with grooves 29 and detents 30 deiining guiding tracks functionally corresponding to tracks I4 and detents I5.

As a, consequence of this form of construction, it is apparent that with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 5, an operator, by rotating against head 25, may cause a projection on the part oi' stud 24 to bring the projections 28, or the cross bar, to a position at which it no longer rests within the detent portions 30. Thereupon, by simply turning the stud, it is apparent that the parts extending from the edges of the openings in plate Ii), will traverse trackway portions 29 to a point at which layer II may be freely separated from layer IU. To couple the parts, va mere reversal of the foregoing operation is necessary.

Finally, referring to Figs. 7 and 8, it will be observed that layers ID and II are again present. However, in lieu of collar portion 2i, a tube 3i is ai'iixed to the inner face of layer III and has a spring 32 extending outwardly from its base. In these views the trackway portions are providedl by grooves 33 formed in the inner face of tube 3| and within which projections 34 ride. These grooves, vas shown extend from the surface of layer i0 and are continued in the form of notches in the edges of the opening formed in such layer. A stud 35 is associated with layer II and has the heretofore described headed portion 36, or its equivalent. The pro- Jections 34 are either formed by the ends of a rod or may, as afore brought out, be integral with the stud. As indicated at 31, the inner' ends of the grooves 33 terminate in indentations or oii'set portions within which projections 34 may rest after they have traversed grooves 33 to their inner limit.

In operation in this form of device stud 35 is introduced into tube 3| and rotated. This will cause projections 34 to traverse the grooves in an inward direction until the inner end of stud 35 engages spring 32, and compresses the4 same. Continued movement of the parts will cause projections k34 to ilnally ride within detents 81, at which pointthe stud may be released. Thus spring 32 will maintain the parts in'locked position and with layers I Il and II in intimate contact,'it being not necessary to employ a washer such as -I9 or 28. A reverse movement ot the parts will result in an obvious release of the furnished which may readily be manipulated by 1an. inexperienced operator and the parts o! which arcanes f 3' may be economically manufactured under quantity production methods. Also, this couplingwhen the parts are secured-prevents any accidental separation of those parts, but at the same time they may be readily released should this -be desired. When so released, the several parts l o! the coupling will remain associatedy with the layers, thus preventing any loss of the several parts thereof. When put to certain uses it may be desirable completely to detach the several parts of the coupling and remove them from the respective layers which they serve to join with one another. In such contingency the stud and rod assembly should be so designed as complete- 1 ly to pass through the layer with which they are associated and be held in position solely by. cooperation with the spiral trackway and detent oi the collar member.

It is apparent that numerous changes in construction and rearrangements cf the parts of the heretofore described coupling might be resorted to without departing from the scope ot the invention as deiined by the claims.

Havingv fully described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A coupling of the character described comprising a stud member, an enlarged manipulating head'associated with one end thereof, opposed abutments associated with the opposite end of said stud, a collar portion for cooperation withy said stud and adapted to be carried by one layer v oi material to be coupled, said collar being i'ormed with opposed spiral 'trackways for cooperation with said stud abutmentaand a spring adapted for positioningl between the manipulate ina head of said stud and the second layer ci material to be coupled.

bill

2. A. coupling of the character described comprising a stud member, an enlarged manipulating head associated with one end thereoi, opposed abutments associated with the opposite end of said stud, a collar portion for cooperation with said stud and adapted to be carried by one layer of material to be coupled, said collar being formed with opposed spiral trackways for ccoperation with said stud abutments, detents iormed at the end oi said spiral Itracltways for receiving and holding said stud abutments, and a spring adapted for positioning between the manipulating head of said stud and the second layer of material to be coupled. u 3. Acoupling of the character described ccmprising a stud member, an enlarged manipulating head associated with one end thereof. opposed abutments associated with the opposite end of said stud, a collar portion for cooperation with said kstud and adapted to be carried by one layer of material to be coupled, said collar being formed with opposed spiral trackways for cooperation with saidv stud abutments, detents formed at the end of said spiral trackways for revceiving and .holding` said stud abutments, and.

spring pressed means for normally preventing the release of said stud abutments from said detents.

4. A coupling of the characterdescribed com-l prising a stud member, an enlarged manipulating head associated with one end thereof, op-

posed abu'txnents associated with the opposite end of said stud, a collar portion for cooperation with said stud and adapted to be carried by one layer of material to be coupled, said collar being formed with opposed spiral trackways for cooperation with said stud abutments, and spring pressed means cooperating with the manipulating head of said stud and the second layer of material tube coupled to normally prevent the release oi said stud abutments.V

5. A coupling of the character described including, in combination, a stud, a manipulating head formed at :ne endthereof, opposed abutments adjacent the other end oi said stud, a

collar portion carried by one layer of material to bel coupled, said collar portion providedv with opposed spiral trackways for cooperation with said stud abutments, and. resilient means cooperating with said stud and normally urging the latter out of association with said collar.

6. A coupling oi the character described including, `in combination, a stud, a manipulating head formed at one end thereof, opposed abutments adjacent the other end of said stud, a co1- lar portion carried by one layer of material to be coupled, said collar portion provided with opposed spiral trackways for cooperation with said A stud abutments, and resilient means cooperating with. said manipulating head and the second layer oi material to be coupled to normally oppose cny trance of said stud within said collar member.

"7. A coupling of the character described includin, in combination, a stud, a manipulating head formed at one end thereof, opposed abut-` mentsadjacent the otherend of said stud, a collar portion carried by onev layer of material to be coupled, said collar portion provided with opposed spiral trackways ior cooperation with said 'stud 'abutments, detenta for retaining the stud abutments, and resilient means cooperating with said.

stud and normally urging the latter out of association with said collar.

B. A coupling of the character described including, in combination, a stud, a manipulating head m. at one end thereof. opposed abutments adjacent the other end of said stud, a collar portion carried by one layer of material to be coupled, said collar portion provided with opposed spiral trackways for cooperation with said stud abutments, detents for retaining the stud abutments, and resilient means cooperating with said manipulating head and the second layer of materiai to be coupled to normally oppose entrance of said stud within said collar member.

J. MILLS S. 

